Logo arch
Financing Available Confidential 24 Hour Helpline
877-345-1887
What happens when you call?
line
La Paloma Logo Resources Banner

More Articles

La Paloma Article Archives

Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

Multi-generational Addiction

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Multi-generational AddictionAddiction doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Its effects can often be felt for generations.

Addiction doesn’t just affect those who are abusing. It can live on to affect the generations that follow.

When one or both parents suffer from substance abuse or alcoholism, mental health issues or rage, trauma is created. Trauma at an early age – particularly the early developmental stages before the development of the prefrontal cortex — creates stress, which negatively impacts the structure of chemistry of the brain. (more…)

Drugs on the Playground

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Drugs on the PlaygroundDespite prevention education programs, drugs and alcohol are still showing up at school in the hands of young children.

You don’t need to live in the big city to know that drugs are a problem, but most of us thought third graders were still safe from temptation for at least a few more years. Not so according to a recent story from Pennsylvania where an eight-year-old boy headed to school with dozens of packets thought to contain heroin.

School officials say the kid wasn’t just “holding,” he was handing the packets out to fellow students in his third grade class. The incident happened in a small town near Pittsburgh, where investigators say they recovered approximately 60 folded packs they believe to contain heroin. As if that weren’t bad enough, 18 more open packets were found in the classroom garbage. No arrests have been made, but Allegheny County Children-Youth and Family service was contacted, and the school has promised to take “swift and appropriate disciplinary action in this case to ensure the continued safety of all children.” (more…)

Identifying At-risk Teens

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Identifying At-risk TeensWill new research lead to identifying kids predisposed to future drug abuse and stopping addiction before it ever starts?

Substance use, abuse and addiction are on the rise among teens, and our prevention efforts in the past don’t go much beyond telling kids how to “just say no.” Aside from a generic (if well-meaning) one-size-fits-all approach, nothing is done to address the specific needs of those with a predisposition to addiction. Add to that group the teens at an elevated risk due to environmental, genetic and other factors and the need for change is clear. (more…)

Positivity Prevails

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

A new study shows that scare tactics may have the opposite effect when it comes to teens and drinking.

Parents, educators and professionals are always looking for effective ways to keep kids from drinking. Unfortunately, a new study shows that anti-drinking ads which employ scare tactics or guilt may produce the opposite effect in young people, and can actually increase the likelihood of binge drinking, according to a report on BehavioralHealthCentral.com.

The questionnaire-based study had researchers interviewing 1,200 undergrads after viewing the negative ads. (more…)

Teen Drug Use Climbs

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Teen drug riseAfter a decade-long decline, teen drug and alcohol abuse is on the rise once again.

In this case, bigger definitely isn’t better.

After a decade of consistent declines in teen drug abuse, a new national study released by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and MetLife Foundation shows a definite rise in the use of drugs that teens encounter. According to the 2009 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study sponsored by MetLife Foundation the number of teens in grades 9-12 that used alcohol in the past month has grown by 11 percent while ecstasy use shows a 67 percent increase and marijuana use rose 19 percent. (more…)

Rx Abuse In Teens

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Teens and Prescription PillsPrescription misuse among teens is on the rise as drugs are readily available and kids share among their friends.

Law enforcement in Northeast Pennsylvania is seeing the misuse of prescription drugs among juveniles as a growing problem, according to a report in the Scranton Times-Tribune.

Representatives from district attorneys’ offices in three neighboring counties spoke with about 100 educators at the Lackawanna County Center for Public Safety, as part of an ongoing discussion and call to action on gangs and gang-related activity. (more…)

Teen Trends In Drug Use

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

bus drug dealResults from the U.S. government’s Monitoring the Future study was released this week and focuses on trends in teen drug use.

A new national study of teenagers’ substance abuse and their attitudes toward drugs and drug use highlights some troubling trends that raise serious concerns, according to Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy.

The organization’s annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) study of 8th, 10th and 12th graders shows decreases in some grades in the use of cocaine, methamphetamine and hallucinogens. (more…)

Older Addicts

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Elderly AddictsAs we push the boundaries of middle age, substance abuse is reaching older individuals who have special needs when it comes to overcoming addiction.

We’ve all heard the pronouncements: “60 is the new 50!” “50 is the new 40!” As a society, we are pushing the boundaries of middle age. Americans are marrying later, putting off parenthood longer and looking younger than ever.
(more…)

Family Link In Addiction

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Osbourne FamilyKelly Osbourne blames her famous rocker dad for her addiction. What role do genetics play in drug and alcohol abuse?

The Osbourne family’s drug problems have been well documented. Dad Ozzy battled an addiction to drugs and alcohol for years, but how did his struggles affect children Kelly and Jack?

The two were teens when they became famous in their own right due to the family’s MTV reality show (older sister Aimee opted out of appearing), making their troubles tabloid fodder as both kids struggled with addiction. (more…)

Early Drinking Puts Teens at Greater Risk

Monday, October 5th, 2009

Teenage DrinkingUnderage drinking puts teens at greater danger of risky behavior in adulthood, according to a new study.

Teenage drinking is seen by some as a right of passage. Some adults view it as an inevitability they resign themselves to accept. But it’s also dangerous, and not just because early exposure to alcohol and drugs is a predictor of later substance abuse. Now, a University of Washington study has scientists investigating a link between early heavy drinking and adult decision-making. The research is being published in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“It is a novel concept to think that early exposure might have long-term cognitive effects, but we can’t test this on people,” said Nicholas Nasrallah, a U.W. psychology doctoral student and co-author of the study. (more…)

CARF logo